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Subject: Re: Gardening in Circles
From: pmlaw@ulster.net (Polly)
Organization: Thrums End Art Studio
Date: Tue, 30 May 00 09:36:06
Message-ID: <MOD$000530.8784@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
References: <MOD$000529.26396@rec.gardens.ecosystems>



In article <MOD$000529.26396@rec.gardens.ecosystems>, "Mike"
wrote:

>Hello!
>
>My name is Katherine and I have a few questions I hope your group can help
>me with.
>I live in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, where the summer climate is ideal
>for planting, but being in a small town, there are quite a few predators:
>cats, birds, and bugs. I have just planted my first ever garden. It is a
>small circle, already filled with tomatoes, peppers, carrots, beans,
>radishes and herbs. There is path through the middle, running east/west.
>My Questions are:
>1. What plants would you recommend I plant around the outside of my circle
>so as to protect the more vulnerable inside?
>2. It would be nice to give this garden some meaning beyond "just for fun".
>I have been told that circular gardens are traditional to the First Nations.
>If I were to keep with this tradition, are there certain plants that honour
>certain gods planted at the North, South, East, West points?
>
>Thank you very much for your time, I look forward to hearing a response.
>Katherine

Hi Katherine,

I have no advice on the First nations aspect of your garden but as far as
keeping out predators-

cats: if you want to keep cats out of your garden, fencing is the only
truly comprehensive way

birds: IMO you shouldn't try to keep all birds out of your garden as they
help control the bugs. There are certain times of the year and certain
plants you may want to protect from them, however, and that can be done
with bird netting or Reemay (aka floating row cover)

bugs: well, each bug has its own nemesis, solutions range from
exclusion(floating row cover,) to organic pesticides (Neem and others,) to
biologic controls (birds, lady bugs, mantises etc,) to elbow grease
(handpicking tomato hornworms, for example.)

Good luck,

Polly M. Law/Thrums End Art Studio
in the beautiful Mid Hudson Valley of NY, USDA zone 5

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